The 5th Sunday of Lent. Time feels as if it’s flying, as March has ended without so much as a warning. April’s first Gospel of the month speaks of a miracle, specifically Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead. This miracle transformed the minds of many, including the many Jews who witnessed the event. This begs the question: do we as a community acknowledge only the events that offer jaw-dropping results, and ignore the “miniature miracles” we seemingly take for granted?

In trying times, we cannot allow the day-to-day miracles to continuously go unnoticed. We must force ourselves, during our busy days, to take a step back and soak in the grace of God that exists all around us: the rising sun, the cool breeze, the chirping birds, and the loved ones around us. We cannot sit back, awaiting miracles with the magnitude of the Lazarus story to serve as the benchmark to God’s redeeming power. We must use our creativity, searching and appreciating all that happens around us, both in a minor and major fashion.

As Holy Week approaches, use your optimism to search for those day-to-day miracles, all the while shunning the pessimism that may be getting in the way. Allow God’s redeeming power to shine bright onto you and yours throughout the remaining Lenten season.